A dragon shifter novel Chapter 98

My Heart in Chains.

Cassian

The knock comes before dawn. Three sharp raps. Not loud, but decisive. I know the sound of hesitation, and this isn’t it. I glance up from the desk, eyes aching from too many hours spent over essays that blur into one another. My students‘ words don’t hold. Nothing does, not since the bond settled like a quiet storm inside my chest, it’s constant, patient, impossible to silence. It hums even now, a faint pulse under my ribs, whispering her name with every beat of my heart.

“Allison,” I murmur under my breath, and the hum sharpens as if it’s answering me.

1 rub the bridge of my nose and force the thought away.

“Enter” I call, voice steadier than I feel.

The door opens, and Scorched steps inside. His suit is sharp, his silver tie askew, but his hands twitch at his side, and his usual grin is missing. That alone puts me on alert.

“Professor,” he says, bowing slightly, tone clipped with tension. “The Council has responded.”

For a second, I don’t move. The words hang there like something heavy and fragile all at once. The Council. Responded. I thought they’d ignore me. They usually do.

“Responded,” I repeat slowly.

He nods. “They’ve requested your presence immediately. The transport sigil’s already been activated at the east gate.”

“Requested,” I echo, setting my pen down. “That’s their polite way of saying summoned.”

Scorched doesn’t answer. He doesn’t have to. I push back from the desk, the chair creaking faintly. My office is still lit with the low golden glow of the desk lamp, papers stacked like small monuments to order and control. Control that I’m about to lose. I straighten my cuffs, then glance once toward the window. Dawn hasn’t broken yet, but the faintest light edges the horizon. Somewhere beyond those hills, she’s still asleep. Or maybe she’s already awake, stretching. brushing her hair from her face. I know she feels me. I feel her every moment… And yet, I can’t even walk down the halls to see her. The thought makes something in me twist. I grab my coat and follow Scorched out.

The path to the eastern courtyard is silent. Thornhill is still half–asleep; mist curls through the arches, clinging to the stones. I catch my reflection in one of the windowpanes—tired eyes, jaw tight, my usual put–together appearance is gone.

Scorched slows as the glowing transport sigil comes into view, etched into the stone. “Hill,” he says quietly, “for what it’s worth… hope they latest

“Me too,” I say, and step onto the circle.

The hum starts at my heels, a low vibration that crawls up my spine, wraps around my lungs, and yanks. Then the world folds and

The Council’s chamber in colder than I remember. No windows. No colour, just marble, stone, and the faint scent of incense that lade The celling arches high above, etched with the sigils of the Seven–symbols of unity, control, obedience. Sean figures wait behind the cracruz fais, there won full–shrouded in shadow and glamour. The one in the centre a woman draped in midnight blue, gold vigila aling her tig–titty hey head

“Profi Hill,” she gets, ville imooth, unhurried “we recoleed your petition.”

I how slightly. “Thank you for granting me quifiopće

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12:54 pm Pppp.

My Heart in Chains.

You’ve requested an exemption, she continues, fingers laced together. “Permission to pursue an attachment with a student currently under your instruction, citing the existence of a fated bond.”

“Yes,” I say evenly. “The bond isn omething I chose. But it exists. Denying it causes… strain. For both of us.”

A ripple of murmurs moves through the council seats. The man on the far left leans forward, eyes sharp. “Yoit are aware, Professor, that such relationships have led to chaos before. The last instructor who petitioned for this exemption-”

“Was executed for defiance,” I finish quietly. “Yes. I remember.”

The woman in blue raises a brow. “And yet you ask us to risk a repeat?”

“I ask you to recognise what your own archives already prove,” I reply, forcing calm into every word. “A fated bond is not a choice. It’s law older than yours. If you deny it, you invite instability far worse than scandal.”

That gets their attention. A few shift uncomfortably. The bond pulses under my skin, hot, eager, like it wants to speak through me.

She sighs, a long, practised sound. “You signed a contract, Professor Hill. Ten years of service to Thornhill Academy in exchange for removal from the war at the wall. It was not forced upon you.”

“No, I admit. “It was the price of survival.”

Then you understand the terms.”

I lift my gaze to meet hers fully. “I understand them. But the contract was never meant to imprison my heart.”

There’s a whisper of silence between them. A dangerous one. Then her expression hardens. “Be careful, Professor. That sounds dangerously close to rebellion.”

There it is. The word they guard like a weapon. Rebellion. The whisper that still makes even seasoned soldiers flinch. I don’t flinch. Not this time. Not when I know what I am doing this for.

The woman straightens. “Your request is denied. You will maintain professional distance from the student in question. Should you break conduct again, your contract will be voided, and you will be recalled to active duty at the wall immediately. Do you understand?”

For a long moment, I just stand there, the air heavy and still, my heart fracturing inside my chest. Denied. Denied my bond. Denied my soulmate, Denied.

Then I nod once. “Yes. I understand.”

“Good,” she says, already turning away. “We’re finished here,”

The chamber dissolves around me. The teleport sigil drags me back through the fold, and the world re–forms heneath my boots. Thornhill’s gates fou ahead, shrouded in fog. The crows are awake now, circling above the bell tower. The mist clings to my coat as I step off the platform. The man still bain tisen. The light is thin; ghostly, touching the cobblestones in streaks of grey and silver. It’s quiet except for the heartbeat I can feel under my riba, atsiv distant and absolutely hers. She’s alive. Laughing somewhere, maybe. Probably complaining about Kael stealing her tea or having Evander kan her salt lips And I’m here, chained to a promise I can’t keep

Scorched isn’t beside me anymore. The courtyand is ampty. The fog curls around my ankles like ‘s listening 1 nok up was het die wind way www her, but the bid tugs at me intentlessly

“Distance,” I whisper for myself. That’s what they want.

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12.54 pm Pppp.

My Heart in Chains.

6440

The word tastes bitter. Because no matter how many rules they carve into stone, no matter how many contracts they burn into my name, the bond doesn’t listen. It hums again, low, defiant, and utterly possessive. And I already know I’m going to fail.

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R Visitor

Oh, my heart aches for him. What an impossible situation.

7 days ago

50,

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12:54 pm Pppp.

Thornhill Academy

Shadow Demon Daddy

Allison

Breakfast smells like heaven and chaos this morning. Kael somehow used every pan in existence and still made the best scrambled eggs I’ve ever tasted. Evander’s pretending not to notice the mess, leaning back in his chair with that patient, long–suffering look he gets whenever Kael decides he’s “got this.” Rhaziel sits at the end of the table, elegant even with a mix of coffee in his hand, shadows curling lazily around his shoulders like they’re listening to every word, and his tail has found its way under the table and is currently sitting across my lap like a seat belt. It’s the kind of morning I never thought I’d have warm, loud and stupidly domestic. The boys have clearly decided that Neir rooms are now just decorative concepts. They’ve moved into mine, their things spreading across every available surface. Kael’s boots under the window, Evander’s books stacked on my dresser. Honestly, I don’t even mind. It’s comfortable in a way that feels… right. Rhaziel catches me smiling, and his mouth softens, that tiny curve that makes my heart flutter.

“I have to return to the kingdom,” he says quietly, setting his cup down. His voice always sounds like dusk, warm, a little dangerous, a little sad. “There are matters that need my attention. The court grows restless without its king.”

“I know.” I reach across the table, brushing my fingers against his. “It’s okay. You’ve got a whole realm to run.”

He nods once, his thumb brushing mine. “I’ll return after your classes. We’ll walk the shadow gardens together tonight.”

My chest squeezes. “Promise?”

He leans closer, kisses my forehead, and murmurs, “Always, hummingbird.”

Of course, that’s when the knock comes at the door, quick, bright, and familiar. Before I can even get up, the door flies open.

“Tessa,” I sigh, already laughing.

She bursts in like a confetti cannon, all sunshine and noise, dragging poor Rynor behind her. Her curls bounce as she waves one hand dramatically. “Oh my gods, how wonderful was the festival!”

Her words trip over each other in excitement, but then Rynor drops straight to his knees beside her, head bowed so fast I think he might hit the floor.

Tessa blinks, startled, and then follows his gaze toward the massive shadow–draped figure at my table.

“Oh. She straightens slowly, eyes flicking between Rhaziel and her very reverent mate. “I didn’t know you had a demon too. I haven’t met this one!”

Rynor’s voice is a strangled whisper. “That would be our king, my love.”

Tessa’s eyes widen. “Oh.” There’s a beat of silence. “Oh.”

Then she spins toward me with that wicked grin I know too well. “So you got yourself a shadow–demon daddy, huh?”

Kael nearly chokes on his juice. Evander covers his mouth to hide a smile, I burst out laughing, heat creeping up my cheeks. Even Rhariel’s composare cracks, a low chuckle rumbles from him, and his shadows curl tighter, even his tail that flicks in my lap seems amused. Rynat, however, still on ho owes, looks like he wants the floor to open and swallow him whole.

I wipe tears af laughter from my eyes and gesture between everyone. “Thaniel, this is my best friend Texa–she’s a lot, and that’s for stad site, Bynes.”

Thariel’s gaze shifts to Rynor, sharp hur not unkind. “The girl from your photographs,” he says suffly, recognition flickering or hick

12

6:30

12:54 pm pppp.

Shadow Demon Daddy

Ined miling “Yep. The one who sends me thirty messages a day about shoes and curses in three languages.

Rynor bows lower. “My king,” he says, voice low and reverent.

Rhaziel inclines his head. “Rise, soldier. You honour your mate well.”

Rynor hesitates until I add, grinning, “It’s okay, you can and up. Shadow demon daddy will be your friend because he’s my mate.”

Kael actually shorts. Evander groans, “Please stop saying that out loud” but there’s laughter hiding behind the words.

Rhaziel only shakes his head, a smirk tugging at his mouth. “You do choose interesting company, hummingbird.”

“I know,” I say, still giggling. “But they make life fun.”

O

Rhaziel finishes his coffee, the shadows at his shoulders shifting lazily like they know it’s almost time. He glances around the table once more–Kael lounging with his arms crossed, Evander calmly stacking dishes, Tessa still beaming, Rynor trying to blend into the wallpaper–and then he leans close to me. The heat of him presses against my side, dark magic whispering across my skin like silk.

He lowers his voice so only I can hear, that rough velvet tone wrapping around each word. “Your shadow demon daddy must go,” he murmurs.

The way he says it turns my face into a furnace. A helpless laugh bubbles up as I swat at his chest.

“Don’t–don’t call yourself that.”

He smiles, utterly unrepentant. “You laughed. I’ll take it as approval.”

My cheeks are on fire. Kael and Evander are pretending not to listen, and Tessa looks like she’s going to combust with curiosity, Rhaziel leans in one last time, brushing his lips against the corner of my mouth.

“I’ll return this afternoon,” he says softly. “Try not to set the mortal realm on fire without me.”

“I’ll do my best.”

He steps back, the darkness drawing around him like a cloak. With a final nod to the others, he melts into the nearest shadow. The room feels emptier instantly, the light dimmer for his absence.

Then Tessa lets out a long, dramatic whistle and fans her face. “Okay, wow. That was hot.”

Kael groans, tipping his head back. “I’m surrounded by lunatics.”

Evander just smiles into his mug. “You’re only realising that now?”

Tessa hops unto the edge of the table, kicking her feet. “Well, anyway, that little show was fun, but classes start soon, and you and 1” she points a farger. me,have a lot of gossip to catch up on.”

“oh gods,” I sigh, but she’s already in full motion.

“Two new marks, Allison! Twat You can’t just hide those under a shit and expect me not to notice. I need details, times, locations and everything.”

Falchokes pa has drink. Evander cover a laugh with a cough,

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12:54 pm Pppp.

Shadow Demam Daddy

And.” Toa continues, pretending not to notice them, “I want to talk about my trophy too.”

With a flourish, she tilts her head, brushing her hair aside to show off the vivid gold–tinged mark on the curve of her neck.

“Rynor did that?” I ask, smiling despite myself.

She grins proudly. “Yup. My very own permanent brand of true love and mild territorial possession. Isn’t it pretty?”

Rynor mutters something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like an apology to the universe, and Kael starts laughing.

Tessa just winks. “Come on, bestie. Pack your books, and let’s go make all the unmated jealous. You can tell me all about your shadow daddy situation on the way to class.”

I groat, but there’s no hiding the smile tugging at my mouth. “Tessa, 1 swear-”

“Uh–huh,” she sing–songs, looping her arm through mine. “I’m not hearing any denial.”

And just like that, the morning turns bright again, chaotic, ridiculous, perfectly ours, as we head toward another day that’s bound to get us both into trouble.

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Simy Kanfetka

I like Tessa a lot.great book!

7 days ago

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313

12:54 pm Pppp.

Thornhill Academy

Fake Friend–and Forbidden Mate.

1440

The halls of Thornhill hum with the usual morning noise! students chattering, spells sparking in the air, the clatter of boots on tile, but Tessa and I might as well be in our own world. She hasn’t stopped talking since we left my dorm, and I’m honestly impressed she hasn’t run out of breath yet.

“So there I was,” she’s saying, eyes gleaming as we turn the corner toward the courtyard. “Covered in glitter, half drunk on moon wine, and Rynor is looking at me like I just personally invented oxygen. Next thing I know, bam–mate bond. Just like that. My life turned into one of those stupid romance ballads.”

I laugh, adjusting my bag over my shoulder. “You sound like you’re complaining.”

“Oh, I’m not complaining,” she says quickly, flashing the mark on her neck again. “I mean, he’s hot, loyal, and gets all shy when I touch his horns. What’s not to love? But, babe, you-” She stops dead in the middle of the hallway, throwing an arm across my chest. “You need to start talking right now. I leave you alone for one weekend, and you go and collect five mates? Five! That’s not a mate bond, that’s an intervention waiting to happen!”

I can’t help but grin at her expression of half disbelief, half admiration. “It wasn’t exactly planned, Tess.”

“It never is! But five? That’s like… mate bingo! You’ve got the sweet boy, the dangerous boy, the broody professor, the demon king, and-” She narrows her eyes. “Cage? As in, Cage Cage? That psycho with the superiority complex and the murder stare.”

1 groan. “Don’t remind me.”

She gapes. “Oh, I am reminding you. Loudly. How the hell is he one of your mates? Did the Fates roll dice when they matched you?”

“Feels like it,” I mutter. “Honestly, I don’t get it either. He hates me. Or–he did. Now he’s pretending to be nice. It’s… weird.”

“Weird,” she echoes, still glaring. “Try suspicious. That man wouldn’t know genuine affection if it bit him in the-

Tess.”

She stops, pressing her lips together. “Right, sorry. I know, I know, you’re trying to play nice. But seriously, Ally, keep your guard up with him. He’s Council- bred, and that kind doesn’t change overnight. You said he showed up yesterday? What did he want?”

I hesitate, glancing at the students as they file past us. “He said he wanted to talk. To make peace. He even came in for dinner with me, Kael, and Evander

Tessa’s eyes go wide. “Oh, that must’ve gone so well.”

“Awkward doesn’t even begin to cover it,” I say, laughing softly. “Kael nearly growled himself hoarse, But Cage, he was… calm. so calm.”

Tessa hums, clearly unconvinced. “Yeah, that’s not good. That’s plotting calm. Snake calm. Please don’t fall for it, Ally. He might be your mate, but that doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous.”

Her tune sobers me a little. Because she’s right. Every instinct I have around Cage feels split in two, half of me wary, half of me wanting to must, like the bond itself can’t decide which side it’s on.

” be careful, I promise, though it sounds weaker than I mean it to.

“Good,” Tessa says, looping her arm through mine as we start walking again. “Because I swear to the Fates, if that man hurts you, I’ll permandly, hice fan

potly fire into next week

1 under “You say that i al wouldn’t get there first.”

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12:54 pm Pppp.

Fake Friend and Forbidden Mate.

“Oh, I know Keel would: But I’d make sure what’s left of him regrets it.”

We both laugh, the tension melting just a little as the classroom doors come into view. Tessa keeps talking about her weekend, about moonlight vows and bruised lips and how Rynor nearly stated when she kissed him in front of everyone, but my mind drifts. Five mates. A bond that feels both a blessing and a curse, and one enemy who’s pretending to be my friend. The Fates really must be laughing.

By the time we reach the classroom doors, I’ve almost managed to convince myself that the day might actually go down nicely. I’ve got Tessa back, my friends are fed, Rhaziel’s promised to return later–it’s fine. Sverything’s fine. Until I walk into the lecture hall.

“Oh, crap,” 1 whisper.

Tessa pauses mid–step. “What?”

I stare at the name scrawled across the board in elegant, too–familiar handwriting. Professor Cassian Hill. Of course. Of course this would be today.

Tessa’s grin is immediate and wicked. “Ohhh, this is great, you going to play naughty school girl?”

“Shh!” I hiss, elbowing her in the ribs. “He can hear you.”

But apparently, he’s not hearing much of anything, not me, at least. Cassian stands at the front of the room, tall, precise, the lines of his shirt crisp enough to cut glass. He’s writing on the board, explaining something about channel stabilisation, and his voice is perfectly calm. Not cold. Not warm. Just… nothing. He doesn’t look at me once. That shouldn’t sting. It shouldn’t. Except it does, because I can feel him through the bond, steady and restrained and locked tight behind whatever mental barricade he’s built overnight. It hums faintly, like a heartbeat muffled by stone. And then, as if the universe has decided this moment needs to be even more humiliating–Cage. He’s already there, sprawled in his seat near the middle row, arm slung over the back of the chair like he

owns the place. When he sees me, that grin spreads slowly and deliberately across his face.

“Well, look who finally decided to join us,” he drawls, loud enough that a few students turn to look.

I grit my teeth. “Hi, Cage.”

He pats the seat next to him like he’s offering me a throne. “Saved you a spot, sunshine.

Tessa chokes on a laugh behind me. I shoot her a glare that says do not even start. I take a seat beside him anyway, because I am determined to find our

what he’s up to.

Professor Hill turns slightly at the sound but still doesn’t meet my eyes. His expression stays neutral as he continues, “Let’s begin with a review of

elemental transference.”

The bond thrums, faint but restless, and I shift uncomfortably. There’s a strange ache sitting between being seen and being ignored, and both of them burn

for different reasons.

Cage leans closer as I sit down, voice low. “Rough morning?”

“Don’t start.” I mutter, flipping open my notebook.

He chuckles, and I can feel his eyes on me while Hill pretends I don’t exist. It did cross my mind that maybe the whole student chef relationshän

would be allowed. Obviously, it’s written in the damn laws of this place, but still, you would think the bond between wilde tham silly

little law, but apparently not. Perfect. Im trapped between my fake friend and in apparently forbichlen mate.

This 46 going to be a long dasm class.